The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 17

I had visited the monastery with my subordinate Holy Knights.

Upon seeing the Sister’s body in the coffin, I was certain. She had been killed and strangled, but the marks were unusual. This was undoubtedly the work of a special ability. Moreover, an abnormally strong force was used.

(Without a doubt, this is the work of a heretic. But what kind of heretical skill could it be?)

I had seen countless bodies killed by heretics before, but the marks left on the Sister were abnormal in comparison. It looked as though numerous plants had constricted her.

And there was a special circumstance concerning this Sister. She was the very cleric said to have been assaulted by Leon.

If we align the timeline, it goes like this: the Sister assaulted by Leon received treatment at the Holy Knights’ garrison before returning to this monastery. She was then killed by a heretic that very night. It hardly seems coincidental.

I sighed. It was clear that I needed to investigate this matter myself. After bestowing the Sister with Saintess’s blessings, I promptly began an inquiry with my subordinates, including Lilith.

This monastery, known for its mercy, actively took in orphans. Approximately fifty girls lived here in communal life with the Sisters, and it was immediately apparent that the deceased Sister was beloved for her kind nature.

“A Sister being killed by a heretic is unfathomable. She led a pure life, free of any blemish,” said a girl through her tears. Wiping her tears, she hesitantly met my gaze.

“The Sister held Saintess Cecil-sama in high regard. Despite what has happened, I believe she would be joyful to have received your blessing.”

The Sister’s character became clear from just a few interviews, but no one knew anything about her connection to the heretic. Why such a beloved Sister was involved with a heretic and whether Leon truly assaulted her only led to more questions. However, one intriguing story emerged.

“The Sister ends up like this, and there’s a missing child too; it’s all so confusing,” said the aged head of the monastery, visibly exhausted. “I just hope that child is safe.”

It wouldn’t be unusual for a nun to run away from the monastery. Yet, something felt off to me.

“Please tell me more about this girl.”

The head of the monastery replied in a flustered manner.

“Of course, this girl has nothing to do with the Sister’s case. She’s just a thirteen-year-old girl. But because she’s beautiful, I worry she might have gotten involved in some unsavory incident.”

“Could you describe this girl’s features?”

My intuition was correct. The missing girl, with her pale skin and black hair reaching down to her waist, matched the description of the girl I had seen on Triumph Street. When I asked for the girl’s name, the head of the monastery again looked uneasy.

“Her name is Nina. But truly, Nina has nothing to do with this incident. She might be reserved, but she’s a calm and gentle child.”

Over the next few days, I tried to track down Nina without any leads. Simultaneously, my search for Leon yielded no results either.

Could there be a connection between these two individuals, linked through the deceased Sister?

As I pondered this in the captain’s office at the garrison headquarters, there was a knock on the door. “There is a report concerning Leon Stein.”

I quickly invited the knight in, but he seemed hesitant and fidgeted as if he had difficulty speaking.

“What’s wrong? Is there something difficult you need to say? If it’s about Leon, I want to know everything.”

“Yes, this is merely a rumor within the knights, but there’s talk of someone resembling Leon being spotted.”

At that moment, my heart filled with hope. “Seen Leon? Tell me more. Where? Where was he?”

The knight hesitated before speaking, “It’s difficult to say this, but… in Pornai.”

“Pornai?”

I couldn’t recall the place for a moment despite thinking I knew everything about the royal capital. Then, the infamous red-light district flashed through my mind, and I couldn’t help but raise my voice in anger.

“That’s an insult to Leon, an insult! Leon wouldn’t be caught dead in such a filthy place! You know Leon’s character as well as I do!”

“Yes, I also can’t imagine the earnest Leon Stein frequenting Pornai.”

“Exactly, Leon would never go to a place like Pornai. But well, let’s hear this rumor anyway.”

“Yes. According to the rumor, Leon was seen leaving a high-end brothel in Pornai with a beautiful prostitute. What’s strange is that he supposedly had a cat in his arms. Moreover, this brothel isn’t the kind that just anyone can enter; it’s membership-only, used by nobles. It must be a case of mistaken identity.”

“A high-end brothel in Pornai… with a beautiful prostitute and a cat in his arms?”

I was stunned by these unexpected words. What kind of situation was that?

Could Leon be in Pornai? No, it couldn’t be. It was unbelievable that Leon, a mere low-ranking knight, would frequent a members-only luxury brothel. Could he even afford such expenses? However, there’s always a possibility.

“Guide me there.”

The knight in front of me looked surprised. “Guide you where?”

“To that so-called high-end brothel. It’s not just a rumor; you were there playing in Pornai. I’ll overlook your visits to Pornai, so take me to that brothel.”